Posts Tagged ‘German Wirehaired Pointer’
Dog of the Day: “Drake”
Thursday, March 21st, 2013
Kyle McCracken’s German wirehaired pointer, “Drake,” may have a ducky name, but he’s crazy about roosters. McCracken, who hails from Savage, Minnesota, and “Drake” harvested these longtails during an Iowa pheasant hunt last autumn.
Have your own bird dog photo you’d like to share? Email it to Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor, at ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.
Dog of the Day: “Ruby’s” First Rooster
Monday, March 11th, 2013
Dog Biggs’ German wirehaired pointer, “Ruby,” was just nine-months-old when she became a pheasant dog. “It was near our home in western Wisconsin,” Biggs said, “She found, pointed and retrieved her first wild rooster. It was her first exposure to pheasants. The season yielded my best harvest ever. Needless to say I am excited about the future!”
Have your own bird dog photo you’d like to share? Email it to Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor, at ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.
Winter Bird Doggin’ Wonders
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
Photo by Nancy Anisfield / Anisfield Hunting Dog Photography
My German shorthaired pointer, “Scratch,” brought me a squirrel yesterday. Perfectly frozen, no sign of disease or damage, but perfectly dead. (I wish I had the camera. Scratch came bounding out of the trees, legs flying in all directions as usual, ears smacking across his face, with his quarry held high, its fluffy tail streaming in the wind.) A little later, “Rimfire” brought me the foot of a leftover pen-raised training chukar that escaped our steadiness training but not sub-zero temperatures. Rim probably ate the rest of the bird. I didn’t ask.
A few years ago, Rimfire dispatched and delivered a mink to me. I told him to get a couple dozen more so I could make a coat. “Harley” once retrieved an old Dokken dead fowl trainer from the upper field. Pretty much all that was left intact was the head, rope and tail. The foam body lay in chunks spread across the snow. Since I’d laced the foam with a fair amount of grouse scent for training, no doubt there was a coyote somewhere either very confused or nursing a stomach ache.
Rabbits? I can’t count how many have been brought to hand or deposited at the back door. Mice? No problem. Varmints-R-Us (the three German wirehaired pointers) think there’s nothing better than plunging head first into 20 inches of snow to burrow deeper and pull out a mouse. Or a mole or a vole. It’s amazing they not only can smell them through the snow, but they scent them across a big field.
On today’s snowshoe trek, “Tank” snapped on point at the top of the field. Scratch backed. “Rudder” backed Scratch. Rimfire backed Rudder. “Scrub” backed Rimfire. When no bird came up, we released them. About three minutes later, as the dogs scrambled along turkey tracks that looked busier than a downtown intersection at rush hour, two turkeys flushed from under the apple trees 30 yards away.
How can you tell your dog that hunting season is over? Would we want to?
Nancy Anisfield, an outdoor photographer/writer, sporting dog enthusiast and bird hunter, serves on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Board of Directors. She resides in Hinesburg, Vermont.
AKC’s 28 Sporting Breeds and Their Owners
Friday, April 1st, 2011
Despite their beauty, I don't know anyone personally that owns a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIVE DOG FOOD
The American Kennel Club counts 28 different breeds in the sporting dog category. I was curious how many different breeds I could connect with people I know. So here goes it; the 28 sporting breeds according to AKC and the first person that pops into my head as owning that particular breed.
1. American Water Spaniel: Not a single person comes to mind. Starting slow out of the gates.
2. Boykin Spaniel: Joe Duggan, Pheasants Forever’s VP of Corporate Relations.
4. Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Chad Love, Quail Forever blogger.
5. Clumber Spaniel: Shale Nyberg, volunteer with Minnesota Valley PF Chapter
6. Cocker Spaniel: A swing and a miss.
7. Curly Coated Retriever: I don’t believe I know any curly owners.
8. English Cocker Spaniel: It’s not my place to break the news, but stay tuned for an announcement from a fellow PF blogger related to this breed in the coming months.
9. English Setter: John Edstrom, Pheasants Forever’s merchandise buyer.
10. English Springer Spaniel: Mark Herwig, Pheasants Forever’s Journal editor.
11. Field Spaniel: Drawing a blank.
12. Flat Coated Retriever: Diane Lueck, Pheasants Forever National Board Member.
13. German Shorthaired Pointer: This one is easy . . . ME!
14. German Wirehaired Pointer: Mark Reinert, McLeod County (MN) Chapter of Pheasants Forever.
15. Golden Retriever: My buddy & radio partner, “The Captain” Billy Hildebrand.
16. Gordon Setter: Another fellow radio buddy, Mike “Cold Front” Kurre is in between Gordon Setters at the moment.
17. Irish Red & White Setters: A blank.
18. Irish Setter: Rick Van Etten, editor of Gun Dog magazine.
19. Irish Water Spaniel: Nada.
20. Labrador Retriever: Well, let’s see . . . there is Rick, Eric, Matt, Ron, Brad & Andrew that all come to mind immediately.
21. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: I can’t say as I know anyone that owns one of these beauties. If I was a duck hunter, these babies would be at the top of my list.
22. Pointer: Rich Wissink, Pheasants Forever’s Youth Programs Coordinator.
23. Spinone Italiano: I used to live down the street from one, but that’s as close as it’s gotten.
24. Sussex Spaniel: To be honest, I’d never heard of this breed till reading it on the website moments ago. Anyone ever hunted behind a Sussex?
25. Vizsla: David Bue, Pheasants Forever’s VP of Development has a pair.
26. Weimaraner: Janine Kohn, Pheasants Forever’s Education Specialist.
27. Welsh Springer Spaniel: Another goose egg.
28. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: Although I don’t currently have any direct connections to a “Griff,” Andrew & I are in a race to be the first to own one in the PF/QF offices.
So there you have it. Of the 28 sporting breeds recognized by AKC, I have direct links to 16, which leaves 12 voids. I was actually surprised not to find Munsterlanders (small or large) on AKC’s sporting list. Anyone know the story of AKC and Munsterlanders?
So, how many of the 28 breeds on this list can you connect to an owner?
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Marketing.
Put me in Coach, I’m Ready to Play
Sunday, February 20th, 2011
The Labrador retriever goes from last season's pitcher to designated hitter on this year's lineup card.
Last year, I wrote a blog titled “Pitchers and Bird Dogs Report to Spring Training,” which merged my love of upland bird hunting with my previous career in baseball. With MLB kicking off full squad spring training this week, I’d like to offer my thoughts on how winter free agency has impacted my team of baseball playing bird dogs for 2011. Yes, it’s a bit of an odd blog but grab that lever under your office chair, recline and imagine hot dogs grilling and fresh cut grass. Summer is a comin’!
Around the Horn
Pitcher: English setter – Coming over in a one-for-one trade that sent the Chesapeake Bay retriever to the Madison Mallards, this crafty veteran brings moxie, guile and style to my team of upland canines. Think Greg Maddux
Catcher: German wirehaired pointer - This versatile pup moves behind the “dish” from centerfield. Such a dramatic shift in positions may be perceived as a big move for some athletes, but for this grizzled veteran, it’s just another day at the office. Think Thurman Munson
1st Baseman: Clumber spaniel – The Clumber brings the lumber to my squad after signing a big free agent deal in the off season. What this pup lacks in range, he’ll make up for with a nose to dig balls in the dirt. Think Boog Powell
2nd Baseman: Brittany – This rangy midfielder continues to occupy the pivot on my double play combo with the shorthair. The Britt’s gold glove continues to vacuum up big ground. Think Bobby Grich
Shortstop: German shorthaired pointer – As a guy that owns a shorthair named after a former Detroit Tigers shortstop, there’s no way I don’t slot my favorite pup into her natural position on the diamond as “The Field General.” Think Alan Trammell
3rd Baseman: Boykin Spaniel – The newest sporting breed entrant to the Westminster Kennel Club and official dog of South Carolina came over in a three-way deal sending the Weimaraner to the Sioux Falls Pheasants and the Cocker spaniel to the Columbus Canvasbacks. Think Evan Longoria
Left Fielder: English Pointer – Last year’s season ticket holders demanded this fan favorite join the local nine, so after a long off season of negotiations, the big running pointer brings his skills out to left field. Think Ricky Henderson
Center Fielder: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon – After a cup of coffee with the big club last September, “Griff” makes the leap to the majors for good with his beyond-the-years maturity, speed and retrieving power. Think Ken Griffey, Jr.
Right Fielder: Golden retriever – Despite consistently picked last, the golden remains a fan favorite. When you need a big play in October, this pup is up for the big retrieve. Think Reggie “Mr. October” Jackson
Designated Hitter: Labrador retriever – Like Babe Ruth, the Lab moves from pitcher to the big stick in the lineup. Think Babe Ruth
The Babe Ruth of bird dogs?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on what breed would make a solid middle reliever, pinch runner, or closer. Remember . . . don’t take it all too seriously; it’s just a spring training game.
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Marketing.
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